A StarNewsOnline Blog

A close look at courts and cases on the Carolina coast

A parasailing boat captain has been accused of misconduct or neglect in the deaths of two women off Ocean Isle Beach in 2009. The criminal complaint filed in federal court Sept. 21 charges Tied High captain Thomas Povazan in the Aug. 29, 2009, deaths of Lorrie Shoup, 54, and Cynthia Woodcock, 60.… Read More »

The husband of a woman killed while parasailing Aug. 28 in Ocean Isle is seeking permission to sue for his wife’s death in state court and doesn’t think the companies in charge of the parasailing trip should have their payout capped.… Read More »

About This Blog

Welcome to Legal Briefs, where you will find all kinds of information about the happenings in southeastern North Carolina’s court systems. The blog will cover cases in the federal Eastern District of North Carolina and in Pender, Brunswick and New Hanover counties. Whether it’s an arraignment, trial, sentencing or some other court proceeding, Legal Briefs will keep you informed and up to date.

Legal Briefs is also here for you, the reader. Got questions about a post or an interesting news tip? Send an e-mail or leave a comment. Legal Briefs is here to start a civil conversation about what goes on in court.

F.T. Norton, courts reporter, came to the Wilmington StarNews from the Nevada Appeal in Carson City, Nev., where she covered courts and cops for more than a decade.

Before that, F.T. was an active-duty Army public information specialist.

The mother of twins in their senior year of high school, F.T.. fancies herself a news junkie and true crime fanatic. In her off time she surfs the internet, watches too much reality TV and yells a lot at her weinerjacks, (half-dachshund/half-Jack Russell) Lucy and Moose.